Expansion joint for pavements and the like



May 3, 1932- c. OLDER l,856,722

Www/M.

May 3, 1932. c. OLDER 1,856,722

EXPANSION JOINT FOR PAVEMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed May 24, 1929' 3Sheets-Sheet 2 A @MWWMYM May 3, 1932 c. OLDER ,856,722

EXPANSION JOINT FOR PAVEMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed May 24, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 3 fa O Y 50 Patented May 3, 1932 CLIFFORD emana, orwrnnnfrfrn rnralvors EXPANSION JUINT FOR PAVEMENTS ND THE lll: i;

Application :tiled May 24, 1929. Serial. No. 365,661.

The present invention relates to concrete floors, pavements, sidewalksand the like, and is particularly concerned with expansion joints forsuch concrete structures.

The concrete pavementsof the prior art are ordinarily constructed in aplurality of sections with cracks between the sections, andsubstantially larger expansion cracks located at regular intervals forthe purpose of permitting the longitudinal expansion of the pavementunder changes of temperature of the pavement. lVhen the separatesections of the pavement expand, there is a gradual sliding of thesections toward theexpansion crack or joint, but when the sectionssubsequently contract, they do not tend to return to their formerposition, with the result that the relatively wide expansion crack soondisappears and is divided among the plurality of cracks formed betweenthe adjacent sections of the pavement, and it is practically impossibleto prevent this action of the pavement sections in closing up theexpansion joint.

The open expansion joints and cracks between adjacent sections soonbecome filled with dust, soil, iioor sweepings or sand particles, and asthis material is generally incompressible it follows that when expansionagain takes place, the joints cannot close between the adjacent sectionsand the whole series of sections is pushed still furtherto- Award theexpansion joint until eventually all of the joints, including theexpansion joint, become filled with hard packed unyielding material. Theurpose of the expansion joint is then de cated and further expansion ofthe concrete sets up compression stresses as great. as would be the casehad no expansion joint been provided in the firstplace.

One of the objects'of the present invention is the elimination oi theforegoing diiiiculties and others, by the provision of an improvedexpansion joint of relatively simple and economicalfcnstruction, whichisadapted to permit relative movement between adjacent sections of thepavement, and to prevent the`filling of the cracksbetween the sectionswith dirtor other foreigr naterial.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedexpansion joint asse1nbly, including a simplied form of expansiblemember having a substantially V-shaped expansible portion and havinganchoring for insuring the formation of separate sections of pavement,and aligning means carried by said division member for maintaining theseparate sections of pavement in the same'plane, hile permittingexpansion or contraction of the separate sections under changes oftemperature.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and from the accompanying drawings, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate simar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are two sheets;

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view'of a portion of a concrete pavement,iioor, sidewalk or the like, which is lequipped with an eX- pansionjoint of the simplest type constructed according to the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the expansion joint after the adjacentsections of the pavement have contracted, showing the parts in diierentposition;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified form of construction, including adivision plate for supporting the expansible member;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a por tion of the division plate ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of construction,having a division plate with aligning formations and. an expansiblemember adapted to be supported upon the division plate;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view of a modified form of construction,including a division plate with an aligning plate and special means ofsupport for the division plate during the construction of the pavement;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectlonal view taken on the plane of the line7-7.0f Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the expansion joint afterthe pavement sections have contracted with the parts in a differentposition;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a modified form of construction in whichthe pavement crack is protected above and below;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the parting strip and supports shown inFig. 9 apart from the pavement.

While the embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention is a concretepavement, it should be understood that the present invention isapplicable to practically all forms of pavement or other monolithicconstruction inV which it is desirable to provide an expansion jointbetween members which are cast or molded in place, for the purpose ofpreventing the yfilling of the cracks with foreign material. v

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 and 11 indicate the adjacent portions ofconcrete sections of a pavement, and in this embodiment the secn tionsmay be provided with acrack 12 naturally formed as the result ofstresses when the adjacent sections contract, or, formed by' means of atrowel or other toolwhenthe sections are laid. The expansible member 13comprises a strip of non-corrosive sheet metal which is formed withanexpansible central portion 14 and integral anchoring fianges 15 and 16on each side of the expansible portion 14.

In order to provide an expansible member of relatively low cost andeconomical construction, the expansible portion` 14 preferably comprisesa substantially V-shaped bend in the strip 13, extending longitudinallyof the strip and preferably provided with a curve 17 lat the bottom ofthe V to facilitate bending without breaking of the metal. The upwardlyextending diverging fianges 18 and 19 of the V-shaped member 14 arejoined to downwardly extending fianges 20 and 21 adapted to extend intothe adjacent sections 10 and 11 of concrete, and the downwardlyextending flanges 20 and 21 are provided with anc oring formations 15and 16 for securely anchoring the expansible member 13 in each of theconcrete sections 10 and 11.

It will be evident that the anchoring formations 15 and 16 may take anyof a plurality of different forms, but in the preferred embodiment, theanchoring formations 15 and' 16 comprise horizontally extending ianges15 and 16 with backwardly turned edges 22 and 23 for engaging in theconcrete and preventing the withdrawal of the expansible member 13. -Thehorizontally extending f'langes 15 and 16 provide a substantial area ofsupport for the expansible mem- -pansible member 13 coverin t e upperporably rounded off to a surface substantially fiush with thel innersurface of the diverg- `ing flanges 18 and 19 to prevent injury to thecorners of the sections by traffic, and to provide a finished appearanceat the expansion joint. The concrete may extend upwardly between theflanges 20 and 21 of the expansible member 13, without interfering withthe functions of the expansible member,

thereby providing vadditional support for the expansible member duringthe construction of the pavement.

The operation of the expansible joint is as follows. a

vWhen the concrete has set and a change of temperature causescontraction of the adjacent sections 10 and 11, the crack 12 betweenthese sections will bewidened as shown in Fig. 2, and the V-shapedexpansible member 14 will be moved upward to the position shown in Fig.2, flexing at the bend 17 and at the juncture between the anges 18 and20 and fianges 19 and 21, respectively.

The dirt or other foreign matter indicated at 26 will be prevented fromentering the crack 12 and when the sections 10 and 11 expand again, thecrack will be open to permit expansion of the pavement without producingcompression stresses.

Referring to Fig. 3, the.v expansion joint illustrated in this figureincludes an expansible member 13 of substantially the same form as thatpreviously described, together with a division plate 27 for producing adefinite line of division between the adjacent pavement sections 10 and11, and for supporting the expansiblev member in place during theformation of the pavement. A short section of the division plate 27 isshown in 'to thelower surface of the V-shaped expan-l sible member 13.The tongues 29, 30 do not interfere with the operation ofthe expansiblemember 13 since the expansible member 13 is adapted to flex upwardduring contrac-- tion of the concrete, and it is contem lated thatexpansion cracks may be provi ed at other points in the concrete forpermitting further expansion of the concrete sections.

Such expansion cracks may be formed sub# i' stantially as shown in Fig.2 with an extion of the crack.

Referring to Fig. 5, the division plate 31 illustrated in thisembodiment comprises a strip of sheet metal which is formed with alongitudinally extending rib 32 of substan tial width having obliqueside flanges 33 and 34. The division plate 31 forms a metal lined recess36 in the pavement section 10 and a protuberance 35 extending along oneedge of the pavement section '11, and adapted to engage within therecess 36 to maintain the alignment of the pavement sections 10 and 11,or to prevent settling of one section relative to the other. Theexpansible member 13 of this embodiment is of substantially the sameform as that previously described,'ex ceptv the V-shaped expansibleportion 14 is provided with an inwardly projecting, longitudinallyextending integral rib 37 forming a groove 38 in the lower side of theexpansible member 13 for receiving the upper edge of the division plate31. The rib 37 of the expansible member 13 may slide upward on thedivision plate 31 when the pavement sections 10 and 11 contract undertemperature changes.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 8, the expansible member 13 illustrated in thisembodiment is Vsubstantially the same as that disclosed in v Thedivision plate 39 of this modified form of expansion joint is preferablyprovided with a longitudinally extending rib 40 comprising side flanges41 arid 42 of substantial width joined by the end flange 43. Thelongitudinally extending rib 40 forms a groove 44 which is adapted toreceive an aligning member 45 comprising a metal plate slidablysupported in the groove 44 and the plate 45 is of sufficient length toproject out of the groove 44 into the adjacent concrete section 10.

The division plate 39 is provided with the downwardly extendingsupporting lange46 and the ange 46 may be supported in a plurality ofdriven members such as stakes or pegs 47, having slots 48 to receive thedivision plate 39. rlhe division plate 39 thus forms a metal lined slot44. the side walls of which are not tapered, so that the slot is incontinuous slidable engagement with the aligning member or plate 45, andwhen the adjacent concrete sections 10 and 11 contract as shown in Fig.8, the plate may slide in the groove 44 or the division plate 39 mayslide,

in its groove in the section 11.

It is, of course, understood that any of the expansion joints describedherein may be used for either transverse joints in pavement orlongitudinal joints, and the expansible member 13 is adapted to be usedfor maintaining the alignment of the ad'acent secf tions 10 and l1 undercertain con itions.

The present invention is applicable to joints in which the pavementsections are initially spaced from each other and therefore adapted topermit expansion of the sections, or joints in which the pavementsections are initially joined or in contact vso that the joint isintended to permit contraction of the sections. Since either of thesetypes of joints will permit either expansion or contraction at certaintemperatures, I employ the term expansion joint generically in thepresent specification and claims to include a structure performingeither or both of these functions.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an expansible joint forconcrete pavement and the like, which is adapted to prevent the fillingup of expansion cracks or other cracks between adjacent sections ofconcrete, and the present expansion joint includes a sheet metalexpansible member of relatively simple construction so that it may beeconomically manufactured.

One of the important features of the present invention is theelimination of the parts of the prior complicated structures and theperformance of their function'by a simplified structure which is sturdyand economical, without substantially increasing the cost.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the division plate-illustrated in thesemodified forms is peculiarly adapted to effect a more perfect alignmentof the concrete sections than is possible where Ithe interlockingportions of the concrete sections 10 and 11 are tapered v as. shown at33 in Fig. 5.

The aligning member 45 preferablv comprises a steel plate havingsubstantially parallel upper and lower surfaces so that the plate may/slidably engage the adjacent walls of the recess formed'in one or bothofthe concrete sections'lO and 11. Where the aligning member is tapered,the space between the aligning plate or projectionand its complementaryrecess, increasesin width as the sec- ,tions contract, and consequentlythe tapered aligning members do not perform the function of alignmentand support as the crack between the sections widens.

-Where the aligning member is provided with substantially parallel.guiding surfaces such as those of the steel plate 45, the aligningmember slidably engages in the concrete sections at all times, andpositively prevents l any settling or vertical movement of one se:- tionrelative to the other. lt is, of course, possible to provide aligningmembers 45 which have other shapes than the simple flat plateillustrated, provided such aligning v members have substantiallyparallel guiding surfaces, but the. .simple flat plate has additionaladvantages in that it may be most eco,-

nomically constructed from ordinary steel stock.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, in this modied joint construction, thecrack 12 is protected by an expansible member 14 carried by the pavementsections 10 and 11 adjacent the top of the avement, and by a secondexpansible mem er 14 carried by the pavement sections adjacent thebottom ofthe pavement, thereby positively preventing foreign matter fromentering the crack from either direction.

It should be understood that in each of the` foregoing embodiments,expansible members may be used on either or both top or bottom of thepavement.

In the present embodiment, the expansible members 14 may be providedwith downwardly and inwardly turned anchoring flanges 50 forming agroove 51 which is adapted to receive a. horizontally extending flange52 carried bv the parting strip 53. The parting strip 53 has a centralportion similar to the parting strip of Figs. 6 to 8. beine formed witha longitudinally extending rib 4() forming a groove 42 adapted toreceive the aligning member 43.

The lower edge of lthe parting strip is provided with a similarhorizontally extending flange 52 for engaging the expansible member 14and in some embodiments of the invention, the flanges 52 may be spotwelded, riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the adjacent flangesof the expansible inembers 14. U

The combined parting strip, aligning member. and expansible members maythen be supported in place by a pluralitv of supporting members 54comprising sticks or' pins similar to the sticks 47. but having slots 55of a shane and a size sufficient to receive the parting strip andaligning member and support them upon the shoulders .56.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention. manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth. but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention.I what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A pavement or the like comprising a pair of sections having adjacentedges, and means for connecting said sections and preventing filling ofa crack between said edges, comprising a flexible sheet metal memberhaving a substantially V-shaped bend extending lon-y,

gitudinally of said craclg'andintegral anchoring flanges extending intosaid pavement sections and formed on each side of said V- shaped bend,said payement sections having their adjacent upper corners formed withsurfaces substantially flush with the upper surface of said metalmember.

2. pavement or the like comprising a pair of sections having adjacentedges, and means for connecting said sections and preventing filling ofAa crack between said edges, comprising a flexible sheet metal memberhaving asiubstantially V-shaped bend extending longitudinally of saidcrack, and integral anchoring flanges extending into said pavementsections and formed on each side of sai d V-shaped bend, and a divisionplate comprising a sheet metal member having oppositely extendingtongues formed along its upper edge to provide a support for saidflexible metal member.

fi. A pavement or the like comprising a pair of sections havingadjacentedges, and means for connecting said sections and preventing filling ofa crack between said edges, comprising a flexible sheet metal memberhaving a substantially V-shaped bend extending longitudinally of saidcrack, and integral anchoring flanges extending into said pavementsections and formed on each side of said V-shaped bend, a division platecomprising a s'hkeet metal member having oppositely extending tonguesformed along its upper edge to provide a support for said `flexible,metal member, and a plurality of driven members having slots forreceiving said division plate to support said division plate.

4. A pavement or the like comprising a pair of sections having adjacentedges, and means for connecting said sections and preventing filling ofa crack between said edges, comprising a flexible sheet metal memberhaving a substantially V-shaped bend extending longitudinally of saidcrack, and integral anchoring flanges extending into said pavementsections and formed on each side of said V-shaped bend, a division platecomprising a sheet m-etal member having oppositely extending tonguesformed along its upper edge to provide a support for said flexible metalmember, said division plate having a longitudinally extending ribforming a slot substantially parallel to the pavement and means foraligning said sections, slidably mounted in said slot.

5. An expansion joint assembly for concrete pavements or the likecomprising a ilexible sheet metal member having a V- shaped grooveformed longitudinally of said member, downwardly extending flanges onpair of sections with adjacent spaced edges Y said edges, an vexpansl lemember located'adjacent one of the faces of said sections to close saidcrack at substantially the face and prevent ingress of foreign materialto said crack, said expansible member comprising an integral sheet metalmember, formed with a central longitudinally extending, laterallyexpansible portion, and with laterally projecting anchoring iiange's,extending into the body of said sections and secured therein, and adivision plate for producing the expansion Crack between said sections apredetermined point in substantial alignment with .the expansibleportion of said member, said division plate having a plurality ofoppositely.

bent anges at its upper edge for engaging on opposite sides of theexpan'sibleportion of said expansible member.

7. A pavement or the like comprising a pair of sections with adjacentspaced edges forming an open expansion crack between said edges, anexpansible member located adjacent one of the faces of said sections toclose said crack at substantially the face and prevent ingress offoreign material to said crack, said expansible member comprising anintegral sheet metal member, formed with a central longitudinallyextending, laterally ex-` pansible portion, and with laterallyprojecting anchoring iianges, extending into the body7 of said sectionsand secured therein, and a division plate for producing the expansioncrack between said sections a predetermined point in substantialalignment with the expansible portion of said member, said divisionplate comprising a fiat sheet metal member having slits in its upperedge and having the iianges between said slits bent alternately inopposite directions to form a supporting surface for said expansiblemember. j

1n witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of May,1929.

CLIFFORD LDER.

